Local doctor was classmate of Whitney Houston: A day after the 48-year-old's unexpected death on Saturday in California left the music world in mourning, Dr. Maria Pane fondly recalled her old school days in Caldwell, N.J., and the unpretentious Houston, whom she described as an "ordinary high school girl, just like all of us."

Police officers mentoring children at Middle River school: Chase Elementary School on Eastern Avenue has organized a mentor program that pairs a dozen students with police officers from the Essex precinct. The officers rotate the days, but typically spend one lunch hour every other week with the child they are mentoring.

Air date set for Cafe Hon 'Kitchen Nightmares' episode: The "Kitchen Nightmares" episode featuring Cafe Hon is scheduled to air on Friday, Feb. 24 at 8 p.m. Taped last November, it is expected to focus on Whiting's year-long struggle to defend her trademarking of the colloquial term "hon" for her business.

TODAY'S FRONT PAGE

Maryland sturgeon restoration effort in limbo: Scientists have been experimenting with dozens of Atlantic sturgeon at the University of Maryland's Horn Point Environmental Laboratory, trying to unlock the secrets of breeding them in captivity and ultimately restore a big, ancient fish that's virtually vanished from Maryland waters.

Baltimore area's federal agencies a 'growth industry': Despite budget cuts and anti-government rhetoric in Congress, Maryland officials say the two huge federal agencies based in Woodlawn may be better positioned than others to ride out the political turbulence expected over the next several years.